Brick-grapple.



H. WEBER. BRICK GRAPPLE. APPLIOATION FILED DEO.1, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented June 20, 191

H.v WEBER.

GK GR E. APPLI TION II LB Patented June 20', 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

II IMIII III J K ziilzhasses Illinois, have invented certain tin rrnn s'ra'rns ra rnn'r OFFTGE.

HENRY WEBER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO AMERICAN BRICK HANDLING MACHINE 00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRICK-GRAPPLE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY WEBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of new and useful Improvements in Brick-Grapples, of which the following a specification.

This invention relates to brick grapples, and its object. is the production of a device having parts of particular construction and.

special arrangement with respect to each other, whereon a number of bricks may be stacked in open order, or having the bottom row of bricks arranged in open order, may be placed on the device and lifted with it, the device being constrnctedtobe witlnlmwn from the stack of bricks after they have been deposited as desired. For example. this invention may be employed to take bricks in the drying kilns or chambers of a brickmaking plant, and to be carried with the bricks and to set them in the burning kilns, and then, without disturbing the stack of bricks or any part thereof. this invention may be withdrawn from its engagement with the bricks leaving them in the kiln tor binning.

The construction and arrangement of parts constituting this invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which a Figure 1 represents a side view. Fig. 2 is a part sectional view, on indirect broken line w-m of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front view of this invention shown in engagement with a number of bricks stacked in open order. Fig. t is a. top plan view of one ot the grappling arms, with the cm'er-bar ren'ioved to disclose the movable parts beneath. Fig. 5 is a. side View of a portion of one oi the arms of this invention, showing the operating shaft, pinion and rack. Fig. (3 is a crosssection on the broken line g -g of Fig. In the Figs. 4, 5, and (3, the scale of drawing has been increased for the purpose of rendering the illustration clearer.

The same letter of reference is used for the same part tln'oughout.

A supporting T1110 A, usually having th spring hangers a, is provided with rollers B constructed to support by means ot its flanges a rcvoluble ring I). Attached to ring 1), are a number of inverted Lshaped members G, olned together'at the bottom by a erosspiece c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

From the base or cross-piece l movable bar E, are arranged the bars F and G, and, it will be noted in Fig. 4:, that the pins 0 which project upwardly at intervals alternately on opposite sides ot the bar E, engage inclined slots f and g in the bars F and G. To keep the bars mentioned from being "forced upwardly during the operation of this invention, a cover or keeper bar It is employed on each arm I). The bar E in groove (Z of arm D, ismoved longitudinally, by the engagement of rack J on the bar, with the pinion j on transverse shaft K, and the shaft is rocked by means of an attached lever Ir, of ordinary construction, provided with a handlatch L, and toothed quadrantv M, which enables the lever to be set at diil'ercnt angles, with rctl'terence to its perpendicular position shown in Fig. l.

The operation of this invention may be set out as follows: \Vhen the bars l of the arms are moved outwardly, that to say, in the direction from the memlgiers C, the pins 0 in the slots f and g of the bars F and G act to move those bars sidewise. It will be noted in Fig. 4, that the bars F and G are recessed, and that the recesses are formed in those edges oi? the bars that are inwardly, the recessed edge of bar F being presented to the like edge of bar G. From the same Fig. 4, it will be seen that as the bars are arranged the recesses ot both are staggered with relation to each other, and the recesses of each bar are constructed to receive the portions of: the other bar that lie between its recesses, when the bars are moved toward each other. The inclined slots f and g are formed in the portions of the bars lying between the recesses. As above stated, when the bars E are moved out 'ardly, the bars F and G are moved sidewise, and toward each other. If bars E are given an opposite movement by means of the lever acting rack J, the bars F and G are moved sidewise from each other.

lonsidering Fig. 3, it is illustrated that Patented June 20, 1911. Application filed December 1, 1910. Serial No. 595.152.

through shai't K, pinion y', and

wise from each other, extend for a short disi tance beneath the bricks of the lowest row of the pile of bricks, and, in Fig. 6, two bricks h, of the lowest row of the pile are shown in section, with the edge portions of bars F and G beneath them for a short distance, but, for an ample distance to raise the pile of bricks when the supporting ring A is raised. In practice, after the bars F and G have been separated to the full extent, the

any position. The rollers B and the flanged ring 6 permit the pile of bricks to be turned about as desired; \Vhen the chosen situa tion is reached, the lever 73 is operated to move bars F and G sidewise toward each other, and the ar'ms D are. drawn out from under the pileot bricks leaving the bricks iii, the kiln. It will be noted that the supporting edges of the bars F and G are beneath the lowest row of the pile of bricks, and that all the bricks in the pile are thus supported when this invention is hoisted. From Fig. 6 it is also apparent that the arms D are below the pile of bricks, and that the cover bars ll alone pass between the bricks of the lowest row, serving to accurately space them for the contact with the supportingor carrier bars F and G. It may be explained here, that the top row of the pile of'bricksis'; arranged in the same manner as the lowest row, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and when one; t the piles is deposited upon another like pile, the arms I) pass between the uppermost bricks, and, keep those bricks in position until the pile of bricks is deposited upon them.

It will be understood that when a pile or stack of bricks carried by this invention and having the lower bricks It: in open order as illustrated, is placed upon another like stack, which, as stated, has its-tippcrinost row arranged in the same open order and position as the lower bricks it of the stack in transit, the edges of the bars F and G rest upon the bricks of the uppermostrow oi. the stationary stack. The cover bars ll are between the lower bricks /t of tho carried stack, and the arms D are between the bricks of the uppermost -row of the stationary stack. Neither the bricks it nor the uppermost; bricks of the stationary stack can be disturbed when the bars F and G are drawn together and out of engagement with those bricks. The fact.

that the stack carried must settle downwardly a distance equal to the thickness of the bars F and G, is not important and does not affect the integrity of the stack carried or of the stationary stack.

Having now described this invention, and explained the mode of its operation, what I claim is:' I

1. In a brick grapple, the combination with arms, of bars movable lengtl'iwise with respect to said arms, the said arms being constructed and arranged to support and guide the side bars, barsimovable edgewisc with respect to said arms, means constructedand arranged to reciprocate the said lengthwise-movable arms, and mut[tally-engaging devices whereby the movement of the said lengthwise-movahle bars actuates the said edgcwise movable bars, causing the edges of said bars to project beyond the said arms.

'2. In a brick grapple, the combination with a vertical frame provided with a series of parallel arms. projecting horizontally, of

bars n'iovably connected with the said arms, and means constructed and arranged to move the said bars laterally edgewise causing the edges of the bars to project beyond the sides of the arms. i

In a brick grapple, the combination with a vertical frame 'n'ovided with a series of parallel arms projecting horizontally, of bars a rranged upon the said arms, means constructed and arranged to move the said bars laterally cdgcwise causing the edges of the bars to project beyond the sides of said arms, and spacing bars arranged above said cdgewise-movablc bars. I

t. In' a brick grapple, the combination with arms, ot bars movable lengtlnvise with respect to said arms, the said arms being constructcd and arranged to support and guide said bars, bars movable edgewise with respect to said arms, spacing cover bars, means ronstructcd and arranged to reciprocate the said lengthwise-movable bar, and mutuallycngaging devices whereby the movement of thesaid lengthwise-movable bars actuatcs the said edge\visemovable bars, causing the edges of the bars to project. beyond the arms.

Tn testimony whereof T atlix my signature in presence of two \VltIlt'SSCS.

HENRY l/VEBER.

\Vit nesses:

Jonn K. Joimnnsmr, E. L. MILLER. 

